It doesn’t matter who you are or how superior your parenting skills are. No one is immune to a toddler who won’t stop screaming while you’re trying to enjoy family dinner out. But there are a few tricks to avoid a total catastrophe. Hopefully.
Go early. Do not attempt a 7:30 PM dinner out. That is not your life anymore. The later you go, the more tired and just done your toddler is. The child-free people typically go later, too, so you can be out the door before they’re walking in.
Order food first. Order your kid’s meal immediately. Make sure you order something your toddler will actually eat. Now is not the time to push broccoli. Grilled cheese it is, again.
Take a walk. While you’re waiting on food, go for a stroll with your toddler. This minimizes the amount of time they’ll have to sit in a chair. You might even go see (and flush) the toilets a few times, just for fun!
Bring your own cup and appetizer. I’m not sure why kids’ cups are ever styrofoam, but as some of you have probably already learned, it’s easy to poke holes in them. Bringing a small snack can help distract and prevent a hangry meltdown if there’s a long wait time.
Point out everything new. Now’s a good time to play “I Spy”, ask what color everything is, practice counting, and learn new words. That will kill about ten minutes.
Bring something to do. My favorite is a small notebook (or even better, a small coloring book), crayons, and stickers. The kids’ menu never seems to be entertaining enough. You can also bring a small bag with some favorite small toys (preferably soft ones).
Ask for the check early. The worst thing is waiting on a check mid-meltdown before you can head out, or needing one parent to stay to pay while the other manages to get the kids to the car alone. Once you’re sure you’re done ordering, ask for the check so you can leave before a meltdown or before it gets worse!
If all else fails…bring out the iPad. Yeah, some people might judge you. But they’re probably the same people who will judge you if your child is loud. At least their judgy eyes can watch you enjoy the last few minutes of dinner in silence.
And lastly, stop worrying. Public spaces are not exclusively for adults (this goes for planes, too)! Young kids are loud, still learning how to behave in public, and struggle to sit in one place for long. There is only so much you can do, so don’t stress about your kid making a little bit of noise! Taking our kids out to eat is a necessary part of learning how to behave in public. Don’t let the fear of people being unkind keep you from family dinners out!
